Meet The Team

2013 marked the first year for Improv Fest Irelandand an exciting year it was too! Over 20 acts performed featuring shows from the UK, USA and our own shores. We have continued growing with another successful festival in year on year.

Improv Fest Ireland was founded by Neil Curran. Having performed and taught improv in other parts of the world, Neil saw the popularity of Improv Festivals in other countries and saw the opportunity to put Ireland on the festival map. Órla Mc Govern joined Neil, initially as an artistic advisor, and is now also a Festival Director. Órla teaches and performs internationally and is equally passionate about furthering the recognition of Improvisational Theatre & Comedy as an art form. The festival team began to grow when artists Brian Quinn and Niceol Blue came on board as Technical Directors. The festival is supported by a wonderful group of helpers and volunteers each year. In 2018 the team expanded further to include the talents of Richard Zimmerman, Jessamyn Fairfield, Quinton O'Reilly and Anna Wilson.

Órla is professional performer, playwright and storyteller, as well as a veteran improviser and workshop facilitator. Órla worked as an actor for many years in both here and in the US (where she first fell in love with improv) and continues to act for Theatre, TV & Film. She performed with numerous troupes including: The Seattle Neutrino Project,Seattle goga & The Spolin Players NW,The Edge, Jet City Improv, Dead Gentlemen, improvising around the US, including at Ryan Stiles’ Upfront Theatre in Bellingham. Órla teaches and performs improv at far flung places like at Finland International Improv Fest, Strasbourg International Festival, BIG IF Barcelona, Improv Fest Ireland, Improfest Sweden, Impro Romania, Festival, Galway Actors’ Workshop, Munich Improv Festival, Blue Teapot Theatre Company and more. She runs improv labs and produces events with The Spontaneous Theatre People ,and performs with The Sky Babies and Which Is Which. She founded Moth & Butterfly, an innovative night featuring a fusion of storytelling and improvisation. She was the sole Irish representative at the Our Livesproject, an inspired improv project featuring one artist from each EU country, selected as part of a global ensemble. She has helped with this festival since it was but a twinkle, and is now Co-Director. Órla is extremely passionate about Improvised Theatre and continues to teach and perform regularly in artistic/educational/corporate contexts. Contact via her page on Facebook or her website.Brian Quinn
Brian has helped out on the tech side with every Irish Improv Festival since the inaugural Improv Fest Ireland. He has been involved in drama since 1995 making his first stage appearance as Polonius in Hamlet and working as a Drama Facilitator. He was co-founder in Drogheda of Kayther Theatre Group in 1998 and appeared in, wrote and directed a number of plays during a ten year tenure. In 2008 he became involved with No Drama Theatre which led to his introduction into all things improv. Along with Neil Curran, they founded the improv troupe Laughalot and Brian went on to be the techie for the inaugural festival in 2013. Since then he has been in a number of improv groups culminating in the formation of an Improvised Shakespeare Group called 'Peareshakes', so keep an eye and ear out for them...
Niceol Blue
Niceol Blue is a singer, songwriter, DJ, writer and improviser originally from Oregon, and now living in Galway. After first seeing improv in Seattle during school and college, the bug bit, and she began taking improv workshops in 2009. She later became a founding member of The Spontaneous Theatre People and The Sky Babies, working as the musical and technical director. Niceol also works in scripted theatre as a sound designer and musician. Niceol has been a part of the Improv Fest Ireland Team since 2014, and is very excited for this years festival!
Jessamyn Fairfield
Jessamyn Fairfield is an improviser and comedian who does physics in her spare time.
She is the director of Bright Club Ireland, as well as an award-winning improviser and science communicator.
She performs as half of Jess's's's. You will find here on Twitter here.

Contact

All our shows & workshops take place in the Teacher's Club in Parnell Square, Dublin. Click the button below to see the location on Google maps.